Messages

Terrible news, and my thoughts are with his family.
May he rest in peace.

Please click on the following link for photo's from Leg 3. Lybia and Egypt

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=94794&id=541019313

Thanks

John

Please click on the following link for photo's from Leg 2. Algeria, Tunisia and Lybia.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=94787&id=541019313&saved#/album.php?aid=94787&id=541019313

thanks

John

Was a turn up for the books to have BBC Radio Ulster want to speak to me after refusing to mention my journey before I left....
Any media coverage about Gaza is more than welcome.

click on this link for photo's from Leg 1. Tyrone to Algeria. More to follow when I get a chance to upload.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=541019313#/album.php?aid=94695&id=541019313

Thanks,

John

Natasha Richardson, wife of Liam Neeson. RIP.

Well folks, please click onto the youtube link below to watch a picture slideshow set to music.
All pictures were taken in Gaza.
Please forward it onto as many people as possible.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=On22mZLRPPY

Thanks

John

Gaza is in Tyrone. Arrived home safe and well this evening.
Now wrecked, and going to bed.

Gaza in Tyrone

John Hurson

folks, thanks a milion for all your kind words and messages of support.
I had trouble yesterday loading pictures on flickr, however I have uploaded soome on facebook, so check them out.
As I can't upload to this site, please feel free to upload them, and sure maybe Ziggy can start a caption competition on some of them!!!!!!!
Plus, please use them to send to anyone you know. Lets be responsible for getting the true message about Gaza out to as many people as possible.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=93525&id=541019313&l=c2e8f





Forgot to mention in my last post that as a thank you from the Palestinean Government, each member of the convoy is to become an honoray citizen of Palestine, and we are to recieve Palestinean passports. That is a remarkable thank you, and i can't wait to use it next time I fly. I will even use it when I cross the border for diesel in Monaghan...................

Tyrone In Gaza

John Hurson

P.S. Mr Fox, you are getting a well deserved slagging about the jerseys....... I know what you are saying and that is why I asked for rugby and soccer jerseys as well.
Dungannon Swifts came through with jerseys, and they too are in Gaza. Maybe someone can post the photo of the Derrytresk GAA Convoy select playing the Dungannon Swifts Lybian Convoy select.........

Well folks, the great news to report to you today is that the Rocwell  lorry filled with aid has been safely delivered to the people of Gaza in one piece. It was an amazing emotional feeling handing over the lorry and aid, knowing that it was going to make a difference to so many people affected by the recent war in Gaza.

To start off from where I last filled you in, was a roller coaster ride of anger, relief, tears, revenge, joy and achievement. There were so many emotions packed into 24 hours, it's hard to know where to begin!

When I left the internet café in Al Arish, we returned to the car park where all hell had broke loose! A few hours before, the police had come in very heavy handed and had batoned several members of the crowd. They then retreated suddenly, switched the lights off, and then a barrage of missiles came over the wall injuring several members of the convoy. Not only that, they had used the darkness to write anti Hamas slogans on several vehicles. For a while it was total chaos. Thankfully I wasn't around for it, and luckily my vehicle escaped the slogan writing.

However, that wasn't the worst part. As I had mentioned in the last message, the Egyptian government had planned to refuse non medical aid to be delivered to Gaza. We had hoped this wasn't going to happen, however, they were true to their word, and at midnight on Sunday, they proceeded to strip each vehicle with all the contents that wasn't medical aid. The sight of van after van been stripped of the blankets, clothes, toys, shoes, generators, cement mixers, building products, and everything else that wasn't medical aid brought each and every one of us to tears. To see fellow convoy members crying in each others arms was a very sad sight. We were in total shock as we witnessed the Government officals go through each vehicle one by one and take everything out. How a government could deny it's neighbour vital aid was just unbelievable. We all knew that Egypt is controlled by Israel and the U.S. but we didn't realise the true extent until Sunday night. We were way beyond angry, and not one official could speak English when questioned about why they were doing it, however their English was perfect when they were asking people to open their doors and question them about their contents.

They strutted about under armed guard, and laughed at us as we stood around in total disbelief. However, we regrouped and came up with a plan. As each vehicle was stripped, and then cleared to move to the other side of the car park, convoy members distracted the officials with cups of tea and coffee, while the rest worked like an army of ants and carried the confiscated aid behind their backs to the cleared vehicles. As quick as the officials took the aid out, we put it back in again! This was a victory for us, and it went on until 6am when the officials left us to go home. Practically all the aid they took out, we had put back in again. We had turned a bad situation into a positive one, and the stupidity of the officials was exposed by their failure to see what was going on!

The following morning we awoke to the dreaded thought of them having to go through our vehicle and the others they hadn't got to the night before. Thankfully for us, (and them), the Government relented and allowed us to carry all our aid. They had gone around us and the other vehicles asking what we had on board. Of course by that stage, all the aid in the remaining vehicles had turned into medical aid. We had covered our load with "hypothermia blankets", and when questioned, this was all we were carrying. It became a joke to hear them ask question after question about the aid on board each vehicle, and to hear the answers given was hilarious. They had held up a wind up torch and were told it was a pacemaker! Generators became heart monitors and incubators, saws became surgical saws, clothes became maternity wear, and just about everything else magically turned into medical aid. It became a total joke, and we had the last laugh when about noon on Monday, every vehicle rolled out of the car park and made the 50 km journey towards the Rafah border destined for Gaza.......

At the border, we waited for a couple of hours for the paperwork to be completed and passports stamped, and then around 4pm, the gates opened and we drove across the border into Gaza. It was a feeling that I find difficult to put into words. After 25 days on the road, over 6,000 miles driven, we finally got into Gaza. Tears flowed like rivers from each and every one of the convoy members, and the feeling among us was a sight to witness. It was a moment in time that you would just love to freeze, such was the excitement.

Following our crossing, we were greeted by the Palestinean government at the border, and given the warmest of welcomes.
We then proceed to drive into Gaza city, a distance of about 25 kms. Thousands and thousands of people lined the drive to Gaza city. They wanted to shake our hands, take our photo's, touch our vehicles, wish us well, thank us, and bless us. We were in total shock as we drove along the road, and very humbled to receive such a reception. What this convoy meant to the people of Gaza is so hard to explain. The hope, joy, thanks and relief in their eyes as we drove along was amazing. It was such a proud moment for everyone to drive along the road into Gaza city. We had all made such an effort along the way, and finally we had made it to Gaza. We were very happy people indeed......

In the city centre, we were all parked in a large car park, and people were coming over to each and everyone of us to shake our hands, hug us, kiss us, and thank us for making the journey. Not only was it a great feeling, but it was very humbling as these people are the real heroes. People in wheel chairs, people on crutches, old, young, all affected by the war lined up to thank us, and all we could do was thank them. They were the real heroes. Following a reception, we were split into groups and taken to various acommaditon for the night.

The following morning we were taken on bus tours around the city to visit the areas hit hardest in the war. No one on the convoy could believe what we saw. Street after street were demolished, home after home flattened, factory after factory ruined, tree after tree uprooted, their water treatment facility wrecked, their sewage works destroyed, the sea polluted, and what wasn't bombed or bulldozed was shot to pieces. 51 Mosques were destroyed, police stations flattened, ambulances destroyed, hospitals attacked, schools bombed, and just about everything wrecked. We were drove around in total shock belief and horror. What we had seen on TV did absolutely no justice to what had really happened. It was very easy to see how the media had been censored on what images they. had shown us. The heaviest damage was inflicted on the areas closest to border with Israel. It just went to prove what the war was really about. LAND. They had flattened and destroyed so much land, leaving the Israelis  in a position to capture it when the next opportunity arises.

The people of Gaza are left with no resources to re build their homes as the raw materials are controlled by Israel, and they have no chance to re build. This effectively leaves them with no other option but to move further in land, leaving the land and bombed out homes behind. This is ethnic cleansing on a scale so big I find hard to describe. My pictures will give you an indication, and you can make up your own minds. The bombing by the Israelis continue on a daily basis, and 1 hour after we toured the area, they bombed it again! It just keeps going on, and the media fail to report it again and again. Shame on them, shame on them, shame on them.

Following a large civic reception in our honour, we were broke into groups and taken to various places around the city to witness what had happened to different groups in Gaza. A fellow convoy member from Gaza had arranged for me to go to the Gaza City Sports Centre where a 5 a side soccer match was arranged for us. We had a "Convoy 5" select play the a Gaza city select. Our team was kitted out in Dungannon Clarkes GAA jerseys, and did very well in the match, scoring a very dubious penalty to draw the game at the end 2 - 2......... Following the match, there was a civic reception held in their boardroom / trophy room where I presented them with over 50 Dungannon Clarkes jerseys in various sizes. I also presented them with 30 Armagh childrens jerseys, shorts and socks, that had been donated by O'Neills in Strabane. They were absolutely delighted and so thankful for our gifts, and I assured them that this wouldn't be the end of the aid that we will help them with. Upon my return, I hope to be able to raise funds for their club which provides so much for the people of Gaza.

Yesterday morning, Wednesday, I visited a local school and presented them with more jerseys donated by O'Neills and the Sligo Co. Board. I had Dublin and Sligo jerseys for them, and to see the kids scramble for a jersey, quickly put it on and then run like mad after a football around the play ground was very emotional for me. Maybe one day they can grow up learning to play Gaelic, and who knows, they could line out for Dublin who are in need of new talent at the minute................

At 11am, our trip to Gaza was over and we had to say tearful goodbyes to our hosts and make our way to the Rafah border. At the border, about 20 of us decided that we were not going to cross, and that we wanted to return to Gaza and offer whatever help we could. After a 2 hour delay, we were strongly advised by the Palestenian Government to return as they could not guarantee when we would be able to leave due to the fact that the Rafah crossing is controlled by the Egyptians, and only opened once every 6 weeks or so. And that is only to let medical aid only into
Gaza. Some decided to stay anyway, and for the rest of us we crossed the border wishing we could stay longer. However, when we get home our work will continue, and we will do our very best to publicise what we had seen, and double our efforts to raise more money and aid for the people of Gaza.

When we got on the bus, an American woman boarded the bus with a young Palestinean girl who had a very serious facial disfigurement. She was attempting to bring the child back to the US where she was going to arrange specialist surgery for the young girl. The childs father got on to say goodbye, and he was in floods of tears as he told us he had been trying for 7 years to get his daughter treatment outside of Gaza. It had a serious effect on all us on the bus, and we were again left in bewilderment as to how this could happen. If this girl was in the "western world", money would be raised, television and press would follow her, and she would receive the best treatment money could buy. However, because she is from Gaza, she can't even get to see a specialist doctor! Just an another sad example of what is really going on in Gaza.

After crossing the border, we took a taxi into Cairo, where we arrived at 2am last night. I hope to unwind here and get a filght tomorrow or Saturday and return home. This journey has not only been amazing for me, but also for each and every other person on the convoy. We will all go home and tell all our friends and family what about what we experienced, and what we saw in Gaza. It makes us all so sad and angry to have witnessed the destruction and loss of life in Gaza. The people we met in Gaza were without doubt the warmest and friendliest we have ever met. They are so well educated, and speak fantastic English. Why they have to suffer so much, make do with so little, and try to live a humble life and the whole time they are been attacked by Israel with the backing of the western world just beggars belief. In 2009 to see such cruel things happen is just unbelievable. So, tell everyone you know about what I have saw, show them my pictures, make them read what I have wrote, phone your politicians, contact all the press you know, and do whatever you can to educate everyone as to the full extent about what is REALLY happening to Gaza and it's citizens. It must stop, and we can all play a role in trying to stop what is happening to our fellow human beings. We can make a difference if we try...............................

I will leave you with some cold hard facts about the recent war inflicted by Israel / U.S.A. on Gaza

1455 dead, of which 405 were children, and 115 were women.

5,303 injured, 1,815 of whom were children and 785 women.

5 hospitals destroyed.

33 clinics destroyed

16 medics killed

15 ambulances destroyed

179 schools badly damaged, 10 totally flattened

153 Mosques badly damaged, 51 flattened.

11,000 dunums, 140,965 Olive trees, 136,217 Citrus trees and 10,000 Palm trees were destroyed.

$30 million damage to the poultry and cattle industry.

The total losses inflicted on Gaza after the 23 day Israeli war is $2.8 billion.

Folks, that is the cold hards fact, and the reality of what I witnessed in Gaza. You can make up your own minds, I know I have.

Pictures can be viewed by clicking on the following link

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35125248@N03/

Tyrone In Gaza

John Hurson

Well folks, today we were supposed to cross through the Rafah border into Gaza, however, the Egyptians and Israeli Government have now blocked us from not only entering Gaza, but prevented us from leaving the car park we were put into last night.
They have done a complete U turn on their promises, and the latest news isn't good for us.

We arrived in Egypt on Thursday, and man what a reception. However, this reception was not the usual crowds of thousands of people lining the streets wishing us well, but thousands of police and military lining the streets instead!
We were all given numbers on our vehicles, and various stickers determining who we were. Then, we were escorted for 250 miles to what can only be described as a "Prison Camp". It was an hotel for the military, and it was surrounded by military/police, and we were not allowed to leave the compound. It was very intimidating, however, we were very tired, so a bed for the night was a welcome sight.

The following day, under heavy police escort, we were driven another 300 miles. This was one long journey, as the police drove us at about 30 km per hour for hours on end, which was very tiring to say the least. Every 30 km, we would go through checkpoints where at least 10 different people would take down our registration number, and check our numbers which the police had gave us.
This just prolonged our journey, and left everyone shattered.
The extent to which the Government had gone to "protect us" included 1 police man every 50 metres along the road. So, over a 300 mile trip, this equated to a lot of policemen! I would love to tell you what they looked like, however as they stood with their back to us the whole time, it was impossible to see their faces. It was so funny to see them stare into trees, walls, and even the sea along the way. At first, we thought it was funny, however, as the miles clocked on, we felt so sorry for the poor policemen who had to stand for nearly a whole day without food and water in that position.
Again, that night we were under a very heavy guard at our hotel, and again, no one was allowed to leave the hotel grounds.

Then yesterday, again under heavy escort and police men every 50 metres, we headed to Al Arish, our final stop over before Rafah. For the 1st time since we arrived in Egypt, thousands of people lined the streets and gave us an incredible welcome. Having been deprived of any reception for a few days, this was a welcome sight.... We have become very used to people shouting at us along the way, and we were suffering withdrawal symptoms prior to last night.....

It took us 2 hours to get from one end of the town to the other, and when we finally arrived to the car park, we were taxied to a nearby hotel. Again we were not allowed out, however, when 12 of us convinced the manager that we had forgotten our bags, we were allowed back to get them.......
We took the opportunity to head into town and get something to eat. It was a good buzz, and after talking to locals, they told us to watch out for the authorities as they had something planned for us.

That turned out to be true, as today we were not allowed to leave the car park. This was a total turnaround by the Government, and not expected. However, as Egypt is the 2nd largest benefactor of aid from the USA after Israel, what could we have expected? They kept us parked up all day, and got very heavy handed. Some of the convoy tried to move out anyway, and they were met by a heavy hand in the form of a few hundred riot police. They hit the various vehicles with their batons, and a few convoy members were also injured. My safety was secure as I watched for the roof of the lorry sipping a can of Murphys (or 6)....... I had a birds eye view, and it wasn't pretty for a while. However, cool heads prevailed, and order was soon restored.

I then tried to diffuse the situation by recreating the famous football match between the British and German soldiers on Christmas day during the 1st world war! I kitted out our convoy footballers in Derrytresk GAA jerseys and challenged the Egyptian police to a friendly game of football. They politely refused, so we then played against some of the Lybian convoy drivers kitted out in Dungannon Swifts soccer jerseys! That has to be a 1st for a GAA select to play a Soccer select in Egypt. It was 7 a side, and it was some sight. Hundreds of locals and convoy drivers watched on, surrounded by riot police. We were treated to a fantastic game, with Derrytresk excelling at the soccer, and led 7 - 1 at full time. In the interests of sportsmanship, it was decided the game should be settled on penalties. Well, it provided some light hearted relief for everyone, and for the record, Derrytresk won on penalties. The Lybian Swifts accepted defeat, and demanded a game of Gaelic instead for the return leg......

George Galloway then returned from the border and from meetings with the Egyptian Government to inform us that only vehicles with medical aid can now get into Gaza. All other vehicles would have to cross through Israeli borders, which will be unacceptable as they do not want to see us anywhere near Gaza.

The Israeli Government have only allowed some medical aid and bare essential food items to cross into Gaza. At this stage, only half a pallet of aid on the lorry will be allowed in. This folks, is one major set back for me, however, it just goes to show how the people of Gaza are been treated by the Israeli Government, backed by major western leaders. They should all hang their heads in shame. However, tomorrow is a new day, and negations are taking place well into the night, and I go to bed tonight with hope that things will change by tomorrow. Lets hope some common decency will prevail and the aid will get through.

It has been a long hard struggle for everyone to get this far, and to have our promises broken at this late stage is very sad for all concerned. If we are turned away, and the aid doesn't get in, I want each and every one of you to tell your friends, family, politicians, press, and whoever else has ears about this act of inhumanity not only to us, but to the 1.5 million people in Gaza living in terrible conditions. They should not get away with this for sure.
So, lets hope I have better news to report soon, however it doesn't look good. So, for now, good night.

Tyrone To Gaza

John Hurson

Well folks, the Tyrone 1 is back on the road again, and i'm now in Lybia....
You have no idea the trouble we have had in order to get to an internet cafe, buts thats another story........
We are now 30 miles from the border with Egypt, which we hope to cross tomorrow. From there, we will take 3 days to cross Egypt, and hopefully be at the Rafah border on Sunday. As of now, we have been assured a safe crossing into Gaza for 3 days, however, anything can happen between now and then.

So, since my last post, a lot has happened. After we crossed into Tunisia, we passed through the town of Gafsa, where thousands welcomed us with incredible excitement. Then the convoy was expected to drive a futher 150 miles to Gabes, but with 18 hours already drove that day, the convoy stopped on the roadside to sleep for the night, against the wishes of the police.....

We had a front wheel bearing gone, and after asking the police to return the 2 miles into town to get a hotel for  the night and sort out a mechanic in the morning we were allowed to turn around and return. Press Tv followed us, and after 1 mile we were stopped and not allowed to proceed. They wanted us to turn around and drive the 150 miles. We refused as we could not move much futher without more damage. The police were accompianied by the "secret police" who were horrible. We were made sleep in our vehicles and they kept their flashing lights on us all night. The following morning, they still refused to let us to return the 1 mile to town, and after 5 hours, they brought out a mechanic who did a botch job to get us going. We found out later that the reason we were not allowed to return was because there was unrest in the town after our visit, as the town is a hot bed for the Resistence towards the Govt. Anyone who had spoken to the convoy had been arrested and badly treated.  The police told us that we had not been arrested or prevented from travelling as the 6 police vehicles used to block us in had "broken down"!!!!!! Mysteriously, they all started ok when we were escorted to Gabes...

In Gabes, we were reunited with the convoy, who by this stage had all been taken to a stadium, bringing back memories of the national stadium in Santiago Chile, where Pinochet  took care of thousands of Chilean people in Sept. '73....... No one was allowed to leave the stadium, and those of us who managed to go to an hotel, were taken under heavy police escort, and when at the hotel, not allowed to leave. At 4am the following morning, they came banging on our doors every 15 minutes preventing us from sleeping. Very nice people indeed..... At the stadium, the lorry didn't get fixed, however, a low loader was produced, and we were taken on it to the Lybian border, which we crossed last Saturday.
We recieved an incredible welcome at the border, and everyone was quite relieved to have left Tunisia, which was a horrible experience for everyone. No one in the convoy is in any rush to book holidays in Tunisia, such was our treatment. But seeing as Israel pulls the strings there, what could we expect.
After crossing into Lybia, we were taken to the next town, and we had an incredible welcome. Again, thousands of people lined the streets to welcome us, and we were taken to a large boyscout complex, where we were well fed, and had beds for the night.
Sunday, the convoy moved on and we stayed behind along with a few others who had vehicle problems. Mechanics were laid on, and late in the afternoon, we were back on the road.
After driving 300 miles, we caught up with the convoy and stayed the night in an hotel which was a welcome sight..

Monday, we headed off again, and had a 300 mile drive, staying that night in our vehicles. Monday was "Revolution Day", and a public holiday. That night we passed by the town used by Gadaffi as a summer residence, and we could see the extravagent firework display as we drove along the motorway. As we were tight for time, we didn't get a chance to stop in and have a cuppa with him, but i'm sure he understood!!!!
Yesterday, we set off early and made our way towards the desert.  After 150 miles or so, we hit the start of the 300 mile desert crossing. After lunch, and fuel fill ups, we started to cross the desert. It was an incredible drive, with nothing but sand, shells of wrecked cars, and dead camels along the road........ We drove about 180 miles, and at sunset, camped for the night.

Today, we completed the drive, stopping once as I had a tyre blow out along the way. Thankfully we have a tyre van on the convoy, and with his air tools, we had the wheel changed in no time. It was a very hot drive with temperatures in the 30's, much like home right now I suppose.

Today we recieved sad news that a journalist on her way to cover our journey to Gaza was killed last night in a car accident. It has put a damper on things for everyone, and has re focussed our convoy. All our thoughts are with her family and friends.

This journey for me is now on day 20, and it seems just like yesterdy when I left Dungannon, although I have driven almost 4,500 miles so  far. It is one incredible trip. Greg and myself feel like we are driving the Pope Moblile as every town we enter people line the streets to greet us, and we are treated like the pope driving through Ireland in 1979....... People want to shake our hands, take our pictures, give us food and water, and to see the joy in their eyes is a feeling that will last with me forever. If this is what we are getting on this journey so far, the reception we will recieve in Gaza will be amazing. Apparently, over 500,000 people will be at the border to greet us!! Gaza is already is buzzing waiting for us, and hopefully this Saturday we will be there to deliver not only our vehicles and aid, but a very strong message of hope to them. We have also been joined by 100 trucks laiden with aid from Lybia. The sight of 220 vehicles snaking through the deset today was breathtaking. It would be very foolish of any Govt. to deny us entry to Gaza now.......
Anyway folks, your help and support has carried us this far, and it will be carried all the way to Gaza this Sunday, so stay tuned to the news for our arrival, it should be something else...............

Tyrone To Gaza

John

In support of Ricey, the whole convoy has gone on strike. we are not moving until he is free................
FREE THE DROMORE 1
George Galloway is organising a mass rally in his support later today.........................
The streets of Algeria have come out in their thousands to show their support for him.
Apparently a movie is in the pipeline starring Daniel Day Lewis.

Folks, sorry for not been in conatct, however, as we are driving long distances and staying in quiet places, I have not had a chance to get near internet until now.
Last night when stopped on the road side for a toilet break, a passing motorist stopped to thank us for bringing aid to Gaza. He then insisted on taking us to a hotel for dinner, and following dinner, he booked us 2 rooms to stay for the night! Unbelievable generosity. Hence thge chance for the internet connection.

I am about to leave for the border with Tunisia which we hope to cross tonight or in the morning.
So far this trip has been absolutley amazing. Since we crossed into Morocco, we have been treated like superstars by the locals. Every town and village we pass through, the people line the streets to wish us well. Last Saturday night when we crossed the border from Morocco into Algeria, over 30,000 people lined the streets of Maghnier. As it was the 1st time in 17 years that the border was opened, it was something that words can hardly do justice to. For people to touch the lorry, shake our hands, take our pictures and wish us well was truely a magical moment not only for us, but for them. The people have been just simply amazing. It's like driving the Pope Mobile through crowded streets!!!!!

I have a few pictures posted on Flickr, so maybe someone can post them up here.
Sorry for the short e mail, however we are on a tight schedule, so must dash.
Thinking about you all each day, and have told so many people about your fantastic support.
Spread the word, and make sure to tune into the 6pm news on UTV this evening as I did a satellite interview with Paul Clarke yesterday from the top of the Atlas Mountains in Algeria.

Tyrone To Gaza

John Hurson
Anyhow, the lorry is holding up well, and the people on the trip have been fantastic.

["GIVE HER DIXIE"]

Folks, I'm just going out the door now.
This is the start of one serious adventure. Your help, support, and generosity knows no bounds.
You have been my rock for the past 2 weeks. For those of you in London, we leave from Hyde Park at 11am.
In 03 Peter said "Its time to take Sam home to Tyrone", today I say "It's time to bring Tyrone To Gaza".
There is only one thing left for me to say.......................

"GIVE HER DIXIE"

Tyrone To Gaza

John Hurson

Folks, just a quick note as i'm totally drained.

At lunch time today we had the lorry filled. By the time we left the Oaks Centre, we had the makings of half another load. There are a lot off people to come tomorrow, and we are going to be there to thank them so much, however if they can hold onto it, there is a good chance that Barry at HFS will try and organise a container in a couple of weeks and see about shipping it out to a reputable aid company working in Gaza.

mylestheslasher made it all the way from Sligo to see me, and he did us a massive favour by collecting 150 childrens playing kits donated by the Sligo Co. Board. He car was jammed with box's. Thanks once again for your help, and the Cavan air freshner you gave me will hang with pride in the Rocwell lorry.

I collected the lorry this evening from Rocwell as they had it for the past 2 days servicing it, and checking everything over. They have done a mighty fine job, and it looks great. Lads, Rocwell Water, and their owner Brian Quinn in paticular have been nothing short of amazing. Not only did he donate the lorry, but he donated 3 full boxes of various Tyrone Jerseys, flags, football's, caps, and whatever else he could put his hands on. He has a heart the size of ocean, and his sprirt will be with be with us all the way to Gaza. Tyrone hasn't let him down yet, so lets hope his luck will pay off on us........

O' Neills have donated over 600 jerseys, mainly childrens, and from Antrim, Meath, Dublin, Roscommon, Armagh, Tyrone and various other counties. This too is one incredible donation, and no doubt we will see some kids in the future wearing one and playing football on the streets of Gaza. Maybe Hardstation could go over a coach a few kids wearing Antrim jerseys...... Kieran Kennedy deserves a great deal of credit, and he has made me a fantastic flag that will be flown proudly everywhere we go. This is the second flag he has made for me, although the 1st one was made for the 2005 banquet and it fell into my bag somehow that night......

Barry Mc Guiness from Home Furnishing Solutions in the Oaks Centre has been a  tower of strength. I dont know where to begin with what he has done, except to say that I couldn't have done it without him. He has been getting people to sponsor blankets and so far he has taken in nearly £1,000 in 5 days! He will continue to support us along the way as people who want to make a donation can call HFS on 0044 28877 26541. You can pay by credit card, and he has a book where you can leave a message. Make sure and tell him that you are from the GAA board.

Tomorrow is a new day, and I now have a million things to do instead of a thousand...
So, i'll sign off, and will give you an update tomorrow before I head on Friday.
Once again folks, you have kept me going, and the messages of support you have given me has really swelled my heart. I will bring that with me for a very long time. Everyone, take a bow and pat yourselves on the back. It's people like you that make people like me go and do some good for those who need it. For that, thank you so much.

I will be printing off the pages from this thread before I go and bringing it with me all the way to Gaza to show the people that there is a whole community from right across the world, who came together on this board, and have sent a message of hope, goodwill, and a lorry filled with aid to help them in their time of need. Just like the Choctaw tribe did in 1847 for our ancestors. So, please post your message to the people of Gaza before Friday morning and I will take them with me.

I'm away to bed before I collapse.

Tyrone To Gaza

John

Folks, yesterday Andrew Nesbitt, One of Irelands greatest rally drivers stopped by and offered his support. He telephoned his office and all the staff, plus Andrew himself, have done a clear out at their homes, and have filled a "Cross Refrigeration" van which will be delivered to us today in Dungannon. This inded is great support, and fair play to Andrew for his help and support.

I recieved a heartwarming e mail today from Jarlath Burns, and he is amazed by the support from all you fellow gaaboard members. He will no doubt give you all a mention in Fridays Gaelic Life. Below is a copy of the e mail.

HI John

WHat an inspiration you are.

I've just read the GAA forum.  You have started a snowball rolling.

I have done a clearout in the house and will head to DUngannon tomorrow. The eldest daughter was in Romania on a similar mission last week and took most of the old clothes we have, but with five kids, there's always more in the house.

This is an unbelievable act of humanitarian kindness.  I mention you in my column on Friday.

Cusack would be proud of you.  In our 125th year, it is amazing to think what the GAA has become.  What an extraordinary person you are.  It's an absolute privilege to know you.

Jarlath


I had Glens abu make the journey this morning to Dungannon with a fantastic donation to our trip.
Mylestheslasher is making his way today from Sligo to meet us, and he is doing us a favour by collecting 150 childrens playing kits donated by the Sligo Co. Board.
I recieved a generous donation from Gerry in the post today.
Fear an Strath Ban also posted a generous donation.
An Fear Rua along with his father have made a generous donation.
Other board members have sent donations, and please accept my apologies for not mentioning you at present, but my head is a bit scatty at the minute!!!!!
Mc Grath building contractors in Dungannon arrived this morning with a trailer full of construction equipment. So, if we don't get through the border, we have kango's and Still saws to make our own way through.........................

This is a just a fraction of the hundreds of people who have stopped with us since Saturday, and we are filling up fast...
Keep up the support, it is driving me on.

Tyrone To Gaza

John